The “Dog Days of Summer” are here, dry, warm and sunny.  The wheat harvest is done while the corn and soybean fields are still only possibilities, looking good but requiring some rain to make it to the finish line with a yield anywhere close to their potential.  Jack Brummond was in town on Wednesday, August 1, trying to organize a rain dance to drum up some precipitation for the area, an effort that did manage to squeeze out about .4 of an inch of rain on Rutland and vicinity on Friday evening.  The Sage of Weber Township was back at The Rutland General Store’s Round Table on Tuesday, August 7, reporting that, despite the few tenths of rain that fell on the region last Friday, the prolonged heat and drought now appears to be having a deleterious effect on corn and soybean fields in the Havana area.  Jack is not pinning his non-campaign for the Governor’s office on his rainmaking abilities, though, but is instead emphasizing his skills with the fly-swatter, which he describes as, “Impressive!”

Orv O’Neil of Phoenix AZ visited in Rutland from Wednesday, August 1, to Saturday, August 4, residing at 116 Dakota Street during his stay here.  Orv, a native of Cogswell, had been at Spider Lake, near Nevis MN, for the annual “Golf Outing” from July 26 through the 29th  with friends Paul Anderson and Bill Anderson of Rutland,  Cavalier ND native Lynn Hartje, now of Punkin Center AZ, and Cavalier native Rodger Kemp, now of Minneapolis MN.  One of the Golf Outing regulars, Cayuga native Don Isensee, missed this year’s gathering, taking a honeymoon trip to Mackinac Island MI with his bride, Linda Miller of Perham MN, instead.  Don and Linda were married in a ceremony at Thumper Pond Golf Course near Perham on Saturday, July 21.

Eighteen youthful thespians are participating in Entertainment Unlimited’s Children’s Summer Theater this year, says Pam Maloney, one of the organizers of the activity.  This year the performance will consist of 2 one act plays, “Bedbugs” and “Story Book Reunion Murders.”  Performances will be at 7:00 p.m.on Friday and Saturday, August 10 and 11, in the Rutland Town Hall, with both plays being performed both nights, says Pam.  The plays are being directed by the mother-daughter team of Diane Smith and Hilary Mehrer, with the assistance of Miss Tracy Haussler, who has performed in several previous Summer Theater productions.  This is the 17^th year that Entertainment Unlimited has sponsored the Children’s Summer Theater program in Rutland.

The painting of the Rutland Water Tower, a project that was started a month ago, was completed by Maguire Iron of Sioux Falls SD on Thursday, August 2.  Because of new safety regulations, the Ottertail power line by the water tower had to be turned off while the painting project was completed, and most of the residences west of Main Street were without power for several hours on Thursday morning and afternoon.  The water tower looks pretty spiffy in its new coat of paint, and the maintenance should help to keep it in service for many years to come.

Roy Garza of McAllen TX stopped in at the Rutland General Store on the afternoon of Thursday, August 2, in the company of Joe Breker of this community.  Mr. Garza and a crew of workmen will be removing weeds from several fields of conventional, non-Roundup Ready, soybeans for the Breker farming operation here.  Mr. Garza states that he has about 25 workers in his crew, most of them family members or long-time friends, and that they have been working in North Dakota since the mid-1980’s, doing most of their work in sugar beet and potato fields in the Red River Valley.  He states that they spend about 5 months in North Dakota, 5 months in Texas and 2 months in Mexico each year.  He has farming interests near the city of Monterey, Mexico, where sorghum is the principal crop.  Irrigation from deep wells is just getting started in the Monterey area, he reports.

Word was received here on the morning of Friday, August 3, that Rutland native Joyce E. (Helberg) Murray had passed away on Wednesday, August 1, while a resident in the Meth-Wick Community,Cedar Rapids,Iowa.  She was 97 years old at the time of her death.  Joyce was born in Rutland on March 30, 1915to the late Theodore and Christina (Bostrum) Helberg of this community. Her parents built the house at204 Gay Street, now the Nordland Lutheran Church’s parsonage,  in the year she was born.  She grew up in Rutland, and attended school here, graduating from Rutland High School in the Class of ’33.  She obtained a teaching certificate from the Teacher’s College at Ellendale, and taught elementary school Ransom Township for several years, with the late Raymond Erickson being one of her star pupils.  Joyce married Ray Murray of Cayuga in 1938, and they made their home in Cayuga where the Murray family operated the John Deere farm machinery agency and the Chevrolet auto dealership.  Joyce gave up teaching in 1943, and accepted a position in the Cayuga Post Office.  She was Postmaster in Cayuga from 1969 until she retired in 1990.  Joyce moved to Cedar IA in 1999.  She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, Ray; by 1 brother, Maynard Helberg; and, by 3 sisters: Elva Benson; Mildred Dale; and, Harriet Kerski.  She is survived by her son, Richard Murray of Egan MN; by her daughter, Jean (Mrs. Keith) Erickson of Cedar Rapids IA; by 3 grandsons; and, by 1 great-grandson.  The Memorial Service for Joyce Murray was held on Monday, August 6, at the Cedar Memorial West Side Chapel in Cedar Rapids IA.  Interment was in the military cemetery at Ft. Snelling MN.  The Rutland Community extends its condolences to the family and friends of Joyce Murray, a native daughter of the little city that can.

Paul Anderson reports that the 2012 crop of grapes in his Rutland vineyard is beginning to ripen, and he has now covered the vines with netting intended to keep local birds from eating the grapes before they are ready for harvest.  According to Paul, the grapes need to remain on the vine for several weeks after they turn color, in order to add the sugar needed to convert grape juice to wine.  The birds, however, have other ideas, and think that the grapes are tasty enough right now.  Just goes to show that there’s more to a bottle of wine than just popping the cork.

Wedding bells rang in Rutland as Miss Krista Mahrer, youngest daughter of Mitch & Dawn Mahrer of this community, became the bride of Mr.  Dylan Schuster, son of Tom & Tamie Schuster of Morris MN, on Saturday August 4, at Nordland Lutheran Church.  Following the wedding ceremony a reception and dance was held at the Rutland Town Hall.  The bride is employed as a nurse at a medical clinic in Benson MN and the groom is Nursery Manager for Ag-Reliant, a seed development & research firm, at Morris MN.  The newlyweds will be making their home at Hancock MN.  Their many friends here extend congratulations to the bride and groom, and best wishes for a long and happy life together.

The Rutland City Council held its regular August meeting at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 6, at the Rutland Town Hall with Mayor Ron Narum, Auditor Deb Banish and Aldermen Bradley Christensen, Mike Mahrer and Bert Siemienieski present.  Alderman Barry Christianson was absent.  Also present were Gretchen Vann, owner of The Rutland General Store, and attorney Bill Anderson.  The Auditor’s financial report showed all funds to be in the black.  Delinquent water, sewer and garbage collection bills were discussed.  The Council was informed that the loan for construction of the City maintenance building at 311 First Street has now been paid in full.  The Council approved a building permit for Tony & Lori Nesta, as recommended by the Zoning Board, for the installation of a storage building on a concrete foundation at 103 Bagley Street.  The Council also approved a building permit for Rodney Erickson for the construction of an 18×24 addition to the west end of his building at 202 First Street, including the installation of 5 geothermal wells on the South side of the building.  Gretchen Vann discussed the water billing for overage at The Rutland General Store and the upstairs apartment in the building. The issue was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.  The Council proceeded to approve 3 charitable Gaming Permits to: Sargent County Pheasants Forever, for a gun raffle; Windy Mound Chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation, for a gun raffle;  and, Rutland Community Club for a board raffle for the tickets to the NDSU/SDSU football game to be played at the Fargo Dome on November 10 that were donated by Mr. Wm. Kiefer; with all three raffles to take place on Uffda Day, October 7.  Mayor Narum reported to the Council that the Water Tower maintenance and painting project had been completed.  Alderwoman Siemieniewski and Auditor Banish volunteered to check supply catalogs for the availability of new benches for the Hall auditorium, to replace the old ones which are heavy, difficult to handle and in need of substantial repair.  Two bids for cleaning at the Town Hall were received, from Renee Cramton and Delores Lysne, and the Council accepted both bids on a one year basis.  Mayor Narum reported that the vector control fogger purchased from VanDiest Supply at Rapid City SD has been delivered and is ready to be used for mosquito control.  The Council assigned vector control to the Streets Portfolio, held by Alderman Mahrer.  Mayor Narum reported that all but 4 new water meters have been installed and are working well.  The 4 that have not yet been installed, at the Legion Hall, the Rutland Town Hall, the Fire Hall and 1 residence, all require larger meters and some modification of plumbing.  The next meeting of the Rutland City Council will be held on Monday, September 10, at the Rutland Town Hall.

With less than 3 months to go until Election Day, campaigns are beginning to get down, dirty and ugly.  This week, the President described his GOP rival’s plan to hike middle class taxes while cutting taxes for the super wealthy as “Robin Hood in reverse, Romney Hood,” while Mr. Romney called the President’s description of his plan, “Obama-loney.”  Well, if it doesn’t get any worse than that it won’t be too bad, but, of course, it will.  In North Dakota, the GOP candidate for the U. S. Senate, Rick Berg of Fargo, has already unleashed a multi-million dollar negative media campaign against his opponent, former Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, but so far, his ads seem to be backfiring, as the polls have shown Heitkamp opening a 6 point lead over Berg in recent weeks.  Maybe the voters are finally wising up to the fact that the only way to get rid of the sleazy, negative advertising in political campaigns is to refuse to elect those candidates who use it.  The problem is compounded, though, when both candidates dive for the gutter and the voters are left with a choice of sleaze or slime to represent them in the Congress.  It has been pointed out that if the big hamburger chains advertised the way politicians do, no one would dare eat a hamburger again.  It’s no wonder that the people have a low opinion of the Congress in particular and of politicians in general, when all of the advertising about them describes how rotten their opponents allege that they are.  Meanwhile, the important issues affecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness get ignored.  Well, maybe America will wake up and grow up, someday, but don’t hold your breath.

That’s the news from Rutland for this week.  For additional information about what’s going on in The Little City That Can, check out the community’s internet web site at www.rutlandnd.com, and stop by the Rutland blog and Facebook pages while you’re at it, too.  And, don’t forget to keep the pressure on North Dakota’s Congressional delegation to get the Postal Service reform legislation moving through Congress, in order to stop Postmaster General Donahoe’s destruction of the Postal Service, and SAVE OUR POST OFFICE!  Later.